Never is an Awfully Long Time

No Control

Wendy

Oh, how it was strange. To be back in a place Wendy had never thought she would see again…yes, that was strange indeed. Sure, she knew she had made the right choice when she left her home for the second time but she couldn’t help but feel like Neverland had grown up too. It didn’t feel the same. Maybe it was just because she was seeing this world through grown up eyes now. Maybe she just hadn’t adjusted yet. Or maybe, it was more of the boy next to her who had altered her perception of this place. It was different and beautiful and different some more.

            They had been flying for a while. The sky was light and airy but the wind had a bite to it. Everything below them looked almost microscopic. Off in the distance, Wendy could see the faint outline of teepees and the instinctual sound of a beating drum that was always associated with them. How interesting. Why did she feel like she had admired that view more than once on their journey? “Peter?”

            “Hmmm?” Peter had a subtle look of confusion on his face that Wendy translated to mean they were lost. His brows looked permanently furrowed. Even though they had been flying for a while, Peter had hoped Wendy would be too distracted by the sights to notice. “Do you know where we’re going?” Wendy asked.

            Peter pursed his lips and peered around in each direction. Every which way was either covered by trees or water or thickening clouds. He slowly inhaled and exhaled, “We may be a little lost.” He finally replied.

            “How much is a little?”

            “Ummmmm…quite a lot actually. You see,” he began, “it’s not uncommon for the boys to move locations every once in a while. We used to do it all the time but since I haven’t been here in a while, I’m not entirely too sure where they are now.”

            Wendy figured as much. Out of every soul on the island, Peter knew this world like the back of his hand which is why his confusion was surprising to Wendy. “What do you suggest we do then?” she asked. Peter gently shifted his head in her direction with a completely blank look. Right then, Wendy realized that he really didn’t have a single idea that could help them. She was certain this was the first time Peter Pan had ever failed to come up with a witty plan that could assist his journey. How strange that thought was to her. Not only that, she was also finding it strange that Peter was slowing gaining height on her. With an even more troubled look, Peter viewed down at her. “Wendy, what are you doing?”

            “Me?” she nearly screeched, “Stop flying higher!”

            “I’m not! You’re flying lower!” Just then, Wendy’s height took a significant drop and started to sputter as she fell thirty feet at a time. The kiss was rapidly wearing off. Her eyes began to water and she was sure Peter was far beyond reach. She felt her heart drop each time her body jerked towards the ground and the ever-growing pit in her stomach seemed to deepen as she neared the jungle below her. At some point, her fall had stopped sputtering and had become a continuous increase in speed as the ground grew closer and closer. She had lost all control of her motion. Wind was whipping past her at a furious rate and blowing her hair in every direction possible. Wendy couldn’t see and she was sure her breathing capability would be the next thing to go. From what she could make out, Peter was nowhere in sight and she wondered if he could even hear her belting out his name. Before she could even consider it for a moment longer, she felt the leaves from the tops of the tallest trees smack into the underside of her body. Nothing more stood between her and the ground as she braced herself for impacting it. All she could do was squeeze her eyes shut and wait for it to come.